THE MIDWESTERN AXIS OF EVIL. That has to be U.S. Highway 23, from Ann Arbor through Toledo and Bowling Green to Columbus. Earlier this year, the Northern Illinois football team had a reality check at Bowling Green, and a series of early errors led to another loss, this time in Toledo. The next opponent will be Eastern Michigan (Ypsilanti is pretty close to the Axis of Evil, but the game will be played just west of Illinois Highway 23.)

Wisconsin's Badgers are unbeaten against Axis of Evil teams this year, and the demolition of Michigan State gives them a stake in the Axis of Evil showdown this weekend at Columbus.